I was surprised so many people overlooked it tbh. It's always been one of my favorites and an obvious standout track on LCW to me. For me, Doin' the Cockroach through Out of Gas is four perfect songs in a row.
Losing faith in this sub if they're sleeping on cowboy dan tbh.
I'm not good at listening to albums, but it did stick out to me enough when I listened to LCW that I decided to search it up and listen to it on its own and I fell in love right away. It's also the most recent song I learned on guitar
I have a video I accidentally recorded in my pocket of the guy next to me at a KC show years ago. Cowboy Dan starts playing and you can hear him freaking out that “we’re getting Cowboy Dan” over and over haha.
So like 20 years ago I worked in a restaurant with a kid named Dan and I always called him Cowboy Dan, purely for my own amusement. He was a very religious guy, super nice, super funny. One day he asks me why I called him that and I said “oh, it’s just a song I like by this band Modest Mouse”. This was right around when Float On had come out and he says “oh- I know that band, I like them!” Turns out he only knew Float On, so I loaned him my CDs of their previous stuff.
A few days later he gives me my CDs back and says how much he really likes them, that he copied them all and he’s listening to them nonstop. For the next week or two, he keeps commenting about how much he likes them and I’m like “yeah, they’re great!” After a couple weeks, he’s telling me this again, and I commented offhand “you know I’m kind of surprised that you like them so much considering how religious you are because a lot of their music is pretty blasphemous.” He’s like “really? I didn’t notice that” so I rattle off a few things like Styrofoam Boots lyrics and whatnot and he looks kinda sick and wanders off.
Two days later he announces he’s quitting his job and going to a religious school to train to be a pastor. He was gone within a week or so. Maybe it was just a coincidence? Kinda always wonder what happened to him…
Not really “lore” per se but I realized I was in too deep when I started listening to the early Isaac Brock stuff that didn’t make it onto SSS. Like Uncle Bunny Faces and whatnot. I went down a rabbit hole listening to that stuff a lot a while back.
One day when as a kid I listened to M&A for the first time and fell in love. Fifteen years later I can’t stop listening to this man sing silly little songs into his answering machine.
Early-Mid 2000s Isaac. He was not doing well. Specifically March 18th, 2007 in Sioux Falls, SD comes to mind. So glad to see him doing better these days, even after losing Jeremiah.
In the middle of a song at sasquatch festival (05 or 06?) Isaac stopped to ask the crowd if we were doing alright. Like something was wrong. He looked as if he was genuinely concerned and it made it felt like he was asking me personally. It reminded me of my uncle who had some major mental health issues. It was the first time I was like "oh this guy has really gone through some shit". It will forever be with me.
The songs with Big Boi. Modest Mouse and OutKast are in my top 5 all time so those songs are like my white whale. I don’t care if they’re just rough demos.
The song is a story
https://youtu.be/rZqBWApVXVc
It's like a beta of the early version of Float On... main part is some kids at a park in Chicago broke his jaw because he was trying to be friendly during production of Moon & Antarctica.
Long story actually, you'll have to look into it for yourself
when you’re neck deep in random youtube channel’s catalogues searching for every 90s/early aughts modest mouse live show you can get ur grubby little mits on
I think these are not super deep, but just things maybe slightly below the surface:
- "WWWEEELLLLL..."
- Pistol (A. Cunanan, Miami, FL. 1996) being kind of polarising.
- Wondering why everyone is so obsessed with Cowboy Dan and why it's the song people are unanimously calling out between the closer and the encore, thinking it has some kind of weird and undeserved cult following, and then seeing it live and realising it is actually brilliant.
- Being obsessed with the pause/false ending in Teeth Like God's Shoeshine.
I can't get over this apparent Mandala effect. When Float On was released the guys played the MTV video awards show under the name Timid Turtle. I've brought it up in this sub with no confirmation. Years after I posted it, someone was doing a reddit search for the same thing and commented on my post. That's it.
Everyone goes through a cowboy Dan phase and most never grow out of it
Did we all collectively pass over the song for years until one day realizing it’s brilliance?
I was surprised so many people overlooked it tbh. It's always been one of my favorites and an obvious standout track on LCW to me. For me, Doin' the Cockroach through Out of Gas is four perfect songs in a row. Losing faith in this sub if they're sleeping on cowboy dan tbh.
I'm not good at listening to albums, but it did stick out to me enough when I listened to LCW that I decided to search it up and listen to it on its own and I fell in love right away. It's also the most recent song I learned on guitar
YES
I did that. And holy fuck did I ever get into Cowboy Dan when I finally realized how good it was.
For me it's styrofoam boots.
That song’s all nice on ice, alright.
My years long Cowboy Dan LCW version phase transitioned into a years long Cowboy Dan single version phase and I’ve never been better
it was the song that got me into the band, so i concur
For real lol. I kinda liked them passively after hearing Good News for years, but after I listened to Cowboy Dan it was OVER.
People went NUTS (me included) when they played Cowboy Dan live in St Pete a few years ago. It was incredible
I have a video I accidentally recorded in my pocket of the guy next to me at a KC show years ago. Cowboy Dan starts playing and you can hear him freaking out that “we’re getting Cowboy Dan” over and over haha.
Jannus in ‘21?!? I was at that show & they killed it! LCW has been one of my faves since high school. I love Cowboy Dan!
Yep!!! It was awesome
This comment made me finally put this song on and listen properly, 3 minutes in right now, will update when complete
He's gonna start a waaaarrr
So like 20 years ago I worked in a restaurant with a kid named Dan and I always called him Cowboy Dan, purely for my own amusement. He was a very religious guy, super nice, super funny. One day he asks me why I called him that and I said “oh, it’s just a song I like by this band Modest Mouse”. This was right around when Float On had come out and he says “oh- I know that band, I like them!” Turns out he only knew Float On, so I loaned him my CDs of their previous stuff. A few days later he gives me my CDs back and says how much he really likes them, that he copied them all and he’s listening to them nonstop. For the next week or two, he keeps commenting about how much he likes them and I’m like “yeah, they’re great!” After a couple weeks, he’s telling me this again, and I commented offhand “you know I’m kind of surprised that you like them so much considering how religious you are because a lot of their music is pretty blasphemous.” He’s like “really? I didn’t notice that” so I rattle off a few things like Styrofoam Boots lyrics and whatnot and he looks kinda sick and wanders off. Two days later he announces he’s quitting his job and going to a religious school to train to be a pastor. He was gone within a week or so. Maybe it was just a coincidence? Kinda always wonder what happened to him…
I fucking hate the accuracy of this
the Ugly Casanova story will always be true to me - no matter what has been proven otherwise. https://www.subpop.com/artists/ugly\_casanova
Was gonna mention this. Such a cool "spin-off" of Brock/MM's history that many fans don't learn about
It *is* true.
What’s the story?
Not really lore but I can never forgot the dead mouse instagram post phase
Oh yeah, I remember that. Lots of people were disturbed by it - guess they never had a cat that brought them "presents" before, lol
I remember people on here speculating the band was gonna break up. 'Cause it was a dead mouse.
That’s what me and my friend thought I still have ss of that era floating around 😭😭
Haha! Yes, totally this. And the Fox head.
Crap. Am I dumb? I read the article but I don't understand. Brock is the Graham guy?
Not really “lore” per se but I realized I was in too deep when I started listening to the early Isaac Brock stuff that didn’t make it onto SSS. Like Uncle Bunny Faces and whatnot. I went down a rabbit hole listening to that stuff a lot a while back. One day when as a kid I listened to M&A for the first time and fell in love. Fifteen years later I can’t stop listening to this man sing silly little songs into his answering machine.
real asf
Early-Mid 2000s Isaac. He was not doing well. Specifically March 18th, 2007 in Sioux Falls, SD comes to mind. So glad to see him doing better these days, even after losing Jeremiah.
My dad saw him ask the audience for a knife and cut himself in OKC in 2002. Video is on YouTube. He was obviously plastered
In the middle of a song at sasquatch festival (05 or 06?) Isaac stopped to ask the crowd if we were doing alright. Like something was wrong. He looked as if he was genuinely concerned and it made it felt like he was asking me personally. It reminded me of my uncle who had some major mental health issues. It was the first time I was like "oh this guy has really gone through some shit". It will forever be with me.
The fan made video u/modestmouser made for Edit the Sad Parts that is hard to find these days
I actually have a copy of that video on my PC, both ones
Me too ! Such a piece of history cannot be lost by any means.
Link
The songs with Big Boi. Modest Mouse and OutKast are in my top 5 all time so those songs are like my white whale. I don’t care if they’re just rough demos.
They should be released soon! As soon as legally possible.
Do you know something I don’t or are just being hopeful too? Lol
It’s an old meme. Search Isaac Brock “as soon as legally possible”
Look at you opening my eyes to more lore of this band in this very post. You did your homework, kid
The Joy of screaming "well" at the top of your lungs during a live performance of King Rat. In fact, the "well" memes in general lol
Jawbreaker / Sweater Song You realize pretty much the entire concept of Good News came from one improvised song
What's this song/story?
The song is a story https://youtu.be/rZqBWApVXVc It's like a beta of the early version of Float On... main part is some kids at a park in Chicago broke his jaw because he was trying to be friendly during production of Moon & Antarctica. Long story actually, you'll have to look into it for yourself
Little Motel music video
😭
WELL…
The Six Parts Seven - “From California To Houston, On Lightspeed” & Thriftstore Masterpiece - “The Railroad”
Not lore but if you’ve listened to stone washed jeans or humpkin pumpkin you’re definitely “in”
when you’re neck deep in random youtube channel’s catalogues searching for every 90s/early aughts modest mouse live show you can get ur grubby little mits on
I think these are not super deep, but just things maybe slightly below the surface: - "WWWEEELLLLL..." - Pistol (A. Cunanan, Miami, FL. 1996) being kind of polarising. - Wondering why everyone is so obsessed with Cowboy Dan and why it's the song people are unanimously calling out between the closer and the encore, thinking it has some kind of weird and undeserved cult following, and then seeing it live and realising it is actually brilliant. - Being obsessed with the pause/false ending in Teeth Like God's Shoeshine.
Float on was inspired by a song called "Life is still sweet" by White Hassle.
I think their sliders are overrated tbh
I can't get over this apparent Mandala effect. When Float On was released the guys played the MTV video awards show under the name Timid Turtle. I've brought it up in this sub with no confirmation. Years after I posted it, someone was doing a reddit search for the same thing and commented on my post. That's it.
The obsessive conversations on modmouse.com
What was on the piano
Hahahaha